Whether you're working from home full-time or partially, you need more than a desk in your living room to perform at your best. Throughout the pandemic, most people worked in bed and reported feeling highly unproductive and barely making any progress each day.
Many office workers even experienced poor health, backaches, and neck strain because they didn't create a dedicated space to work in and instead simply set up their laptops wherever they liked.
The pandemic has finally bid us farewell, but a large percentage of the American workforce is still working from home. This means it is now more important than ever to set up a proper office space for yourself at home. Your home office should be carefully designed to be a space that allows you to be highly productive, focused, motivated, and most of all, comfortable. Only then will you be able to perform at your true potential and meet your targets for the upcoming quarter.
One of the biggest advantages of having a home office is that you can create your perfect workspace in it. Instead of having to stick to the office aesthetics that are already present in your workplace, you can pick and choose everything.
You can make use of the wall space to pin up important reminders, photographs of fond memories, and all of your biggest accomplishment certificates.
Today, let's discuss some home office design ideas to help you create an ideal workspace far away from that typical cubicle that you are probably used to.
Create Focus Spaces in Your Home Office
As you go about designing your perfect office, it is extremely important to do thorough space planning. Space planning is a strategic process that ensures that you decide upon your office layout well before the furniture is brought in and you settle into the new space.
It helps you make the most of the natural light coming into the room as well. After all, you wouldn't want to place your computer in an area that constantly causes glares on the screen. It would be so damaging to your eyes!
If you're bringing a work desk to your office, make sure it is placed in a central location. All of the work tools you need should be within reachable distance from your desk, so you don't need to get up to use them. Moreover, your office desk should be framed with special wallpaper to make it stand out. This is your main focus space in the room.
P.S. We recommend keeping a whiteboard nearby, preferably hung on the wall, so you can take notes and write up important reminders for the day. Make sure it is in your line of sight from the desk to serve its purpose well.
Designate Special Break Areas
Another important part of space planning for your home office is setting up a break area. Nobody can work for long, extended hours without taking a break, at least not productively.
If you try to work continuously from 9 to 5, you will immediately notice lowered creativity levels and might even find yourself getting a lesser amount of work done as compared to when you take breaks.
Therefore, to encourage yourself to take 2-3 breaks during each work day, you should create a small break corner within your home office. Make sure this corner gets plenty of sunlight for you to relax in.
You can place a comfortable couch or even a rocking chair in this corner. Design it with some jewel tones and metals to make it look glamorous, and don't forget to place some of your favorite books or magazines nearby!
Stay Organized Through Smart Storage
Having a well-organized home office is key to productive working. Nobody can perform well if their workspace is messy and unorganized. Any form of clutter will act as a disruption in your workflow and make it extremely difficult for you to focus on the tasks for the day.
Therefore, an essential part of your home office design is smart storage, and it needs to be planned out effectively.
Since home offices are usually created in the smallest room of the house, there is limited space for your office furniture and storage solutions. The best way to make the most effective use of this space is by incorporating a mix of vertical and horizontal shelving into the office space.
You can use floating shelves and hanging drawers to store your paperwork and other office essentials. The compact design of these shelves and the seamless look they offer will elevate your office space and make it highly organized.
Choose an Ergonomic Office Chair
Within a home office, one of the most important pieces of furniture is your office chair. Most people tend to drag a dining chair into their office and use it to work on but trust us, that is a terrible idea! Dining or lounge chairs aren't designed to offer your body the kind of support it needs to stay comfortable and relaxed while you work long hours.
Add a Touch of Something Special
Your home office should be a constant reminder of what you're working hard for. It should be a space that motivates you to perform better and push your performance to the next level. A great way to do this is by creating a supportive space with lots of positive energy that inspires you.
It is natural for anybody with a desk job to spend hours staring at a computer screen. This can have quite a negative impact on your eyes, and you should be actively looking away from your screen for a few minutes every half an hour to prevent strain. Now, to ensure that you stay dedicated to the task at hand, you can offer your eyes something special to glance over during this small break.
This something special can be anything that you hold dear. You can place a prized collection over your desk, hang up a picture of your family on the wall opposite your desk, or even keep a photo frame of your cat on your desk. Consider highlighting your work accomplishments by designating a floating shelf for your awards or hanging up your favorite travel keepsakes by the door.
Keep it Clean and Bright
A bright and light office is the perfect place to inspire new ideas and have you working at your very best. Well-lit offices act as hubs of productivity as the light helps you stay fresh and feel rejuvenated.
It brings an element of the outdoors inside your office, helping you break free from that typical 'dark and gloomy' office feel. It ensures that you don't dread entering your office every morning since a wonderfully bright and welcoming space awaits to host you.
The best way to create a clean and bright office is to bring in minimalistic furniture. Skip that hefty wooden office desk and instead bring in a standing office desk with metal frames that can be tucked in a corner.
Your home office's wall colors should be in neutral shades, with warm beige or light hues of pink being a perfect choice. They help the office space feel warm and welcoming by adding a touch of color to the walls without being too loud. You can also do a statement wall painted in your favorite color, with the rest of the walls left white for a stark contrast.
The best way to design the perfect home office is to keep in mind that you will be spending quite some time there each day. Make sure the room is representative of who you are and how you work. It should be customized to align with your work needs and methods.
This will ensure maximum productivity and allow you to perform at your best. You should also make it a point to follow home office design ideas that create an open space free of interruptions.
Your office should have minimal noise coming in from outside. The best way to ensure this is by picking a room in a quiet corner of the house. You can also bring heavy curtains, carpets, and rugs to the office since they absorb noise, allowing you to focus on your work without any disruptions.
All the best in creating an inspiring and productive home office with FlexiSpot!